e it was obvious to them that you were certain to tell what you had
seen.

"Nevertheless, there was one chance remaining that you might both be
drowned; and one chance that you might be recaptured before you could
tell any one what you had seen. And there was a third chance that, if
you should be recaptured, you might be persuaded to promise never to
reveal what little of our secrets you already know. In that case, your
lives might be spared, although not mine.

"So it was laid upon me to discover where you were, and to bring you
back if possible. And on the polished table in that cave in which you
saw Benares and Bombay and London and New York, I watched you swim down
the river until you were rescued by the elephants.

"So then I went to meet you and bring you back."

"What if we had refused?"

"That elephant you rode--hah! One word from me, and the mob would have
blamed you for the damage. They would have pulled you from the elephant
and beaten you to death. Such processes are very simple to any one who
understands mob-passions. Just a word--just a hint--and the rest is
inevitable."

"But you say you are under sentence of death. What if you should refuse
to obey them?"

"Why refuse? What good would that do?"

"But you were at liberty. Why not run away?"

"Whither? Besides, should I, who have enforced the penalty of death on
so many fools, disloyal ones and fanatics, reject it for myself when I
myself have failed? There is nothing unpleasant about death, my friend,
although the manner of it may be terrible. But even torture is soon
over; and the sting is gone from torture when the victim knows that the
cause of science is thereby being advanced. They will learn from my
agonies."

"Suit yourself!" I urged him. "Each to his own amusement. What happened
after I turned to watch the elephant at the gate?"

"Those on whom the keeping of our secret rests considered that none
would believe you, even if you were to tell what you have seen. But
Athelstan King is different. For many years the Indian Government has
accepted his bare word. Moreover, we knew that we can also accept his
word. He is a man whose promises are as good as money, as the saying is.

"So after you turned aside to watch an elephant, those who were watching
us opened a hidden door and Athelstan King was made prisoner from
behind. They carried him bound and gagged into a cavern such as those
you visited; and there he was confronted by the Nine Un